Heavy rains lash Puducherry, coastal TN as Cyclone Fengal makes landfall

At the time of landfall, the storm brought packing wind speeds of about 70-80 km/hr gusting to 90km/hr.

Steady rain in Chennai, neighbouring areas affected public transport, including bus, train and flight services, and people from vulnerable areas were moved to safe shelters by the authorities. From afternoon onwards, there were intermittent rains in most areas and by nightfall, it ceased.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran said there were no immediate reports of any major damage in the aftermath of the cyclone. Three persons were electrocuted in different rain-related incidents in Chennai.

The minister also indicated the cyclone did not leave the kind of impact anticipated by the authorities.

Hospitals and houses were inundated in Chennai and its neighbourhoods while people used flyovers and spaces beneath them as parking lots to avoid a repeat of what was endured during the 2015 floods.

Operations at the Chennai airport were suspended till 4 am Sunday following inundation of two runways and a taxiway. Official sources said apart from the cancellation of 55 flights, 19 others were diverted. The services include both domestic and international flights.

According to meteorologists, even before intensifying into Cyclone Fengal, the associated system showed a slow-moving tendency. This slow progress continued even as the storm approached the land, forcing the associated winds and rainfall to cause rough weather over north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry.

After remaining stagnant for over two days, cyclone Fengal moved closer and reached 120 km east of Puducherry, 110 km southeast of Chennai, 200 km northeast of Nagapattinam.

The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu till December 2. Since Friday morning, Chennai and neighbouring areas witnessed very heavy rainfall.

With PTI inputs